Search

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate powder mechanics upon compression using data obtained from force-displacement (F-D) curves. The Kawakita model of powder compression analysis was adopted in order to compare the pressure-volume reduction relationship of the drug powders in relation to the F-D curves. Experiments were carried out on six model drugs (metronidazole, metformin, secnidazole, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and mebeverine). The drugs were compressed at different pressures in the non-processed or processed (using a roller compactor) forms. Results indicate the similarity between the F-D curves and a rearranged form of the Kawakita model. The foregoing enables the calculation of two important powder parameters, “a” (maximum powder volume reduction) and “P k ” (pressure required to achieve half of the maximum volume reduction) from the F-D curves without the need, as in the case of the conventional Kawakita model, to compress powders into tablets at different compression forces. Graphical abstract

Exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines are due to incomplete combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber. This incomplete combustion results in a significant increase in the amount of Carbon Mono-oxide and hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream. Several techniques such as catalytic converters, Exhaust gas recirculation, Selective catalytic reduction and etc are used to reduce the emissions. This study proposes a new approach to minimize the amount of pollutant emitted by internal combustion engines using a device known as post-combustor which consist of heating elements known as glow plugs that degrade carbon mono-oxide and hydrocarbons using a high temperature. This post-combustor can be retrofitted in any existing vehicle's exhaust line without any alterations. Moreover, it is designed such that there is no increase in fuel consumption; it only utilizes electrical energy from the vehicle's electrical system. Exhaust emission characteristics were measured using portable emission tester and exhaust gas temperature using a thermometer, it was found that there was an average reduction of 16.35% in the amount of carbon monoxide and 3.8% average reduction in the amount of hydrocarbons whereas there was an average increase of 9.29% in the amount of oxides of nitrogen and there was a slight increase in exhaust gas temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High raw material prices and rivalry from the food industry have hampered the adoption of renewable resource-based goods. It has necessitated the investigation of cost-cutting strategies such as locating low-cost raw material supplies and adopting cleaner manufacturing processes. Exploiting waste streams as substitute resources for the operations is one low-cost option. The present study evaluates the environmental burden of biopolymer (polyhydroxyalkanoate) production from slaughtering residues. The sustainability of the PHA production process will be assessed utilising the Emergy Accounting methodology. The effect of changing energy resources from business as usual (i.e., electricity mix from the grid and heat provision utilising natural gas) to different renewable energy resources is also evaluated. The emergy intensity for PHA production (seJ/g) shows a minor improvement ranging from 1.5% to 2% by changing only the electricity provision resources. This impact reaches up to 17% when electricity and heat provision resources are replaced with biomass resources. Similarly, the emergy intensity for PHA production using electricity EU27 mix, coal, hydropower, wind power, and biomass is about 5% to 7% lower than the emergy intensity of polyethylene high density (PE-HD). In comparison, its value is up to 21% lower for electricity and heat provision from biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]